Samsung has finally entered the PCIe Gen 5 SSD market with its first Pro series Gen 5 PCIe SSD, the 9100 Pro series. This launch marks a significant milestone for the company, which has been absent from the Gen 5 SSD market despite its competitors, such as Seagate and Crucial, releasing their own models nearly two years ago.

The Samsung 9100 Pro series will be available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities in an M.2 form factor, with or without heatsinks, starting at $199.99. Additionally, an 8TB configuration, a first for Samsung NVMe SSDs, is slated for release in the second half of 2025. This expanded capacity is expected to cater to users who require large storage for heavy computing workflows, such as videographers and software engineers working with large datasets.

In terms of performance, the 9100 Pro series boasts theoretical maximum random read and write speeds of 2,200K and 2,600K input-output operations per second (IOPS), respectively. These speeds are at least twice as fast as the last-gen Samsung 980 Pro, a PCIe Gen4 SSD. While the difference may not be immediately noticeable for PC gaming, it could provide a significant advantage for users who require fast data transfer rates.

Samsung claims that the 9100 Pro series can reach sequential read and write speeds of up to 14.8GBps and 13.4GBps, respectively. This represents a significant improvement over the last-gen 980 Pro and is roughly 2-3GBps per second faster than the earliest PCIe 5 SSDs. The 9100 Pro series is built on Samsung's V-NAND TLC V8 with a custom controller, which enables its high-performance capabilities.

The release of the 9100 Pro series is a strategic move by Samsung to future-proof its storage offerings and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving SSD market. As the industry moves towards PCIe Gen 6, Samsung's entry into the Gen 5 market demonstrates its commitment to providing high-performance storage solutions for its customers.

The implications of this launch are far-reaching, with potential benefits for users across various industries, including gaming, video production, and software development. As the demand for faster and more efficient storage solutions continues to grow, Samsung's 9100 Pro series is well-positioned to meet the needs of users who require high-performance storage for their workflows.

In conclusion, Samsung's entry into the PCIe Gen 5 SSD market with the 9100 Pro series marks a significant milestone for the company and the industry as a whole. With its high-performance capabilities and expanded capacity options, the 9100 Pro series is poised to become a top choice for users who require fast and reliable storage solutions.